The three formations
Crimson Brutes
Hold the front line and absorb casualties before the formations behind them.
Blood Reavers
Fight in the second line and bring aggressive pressure from behind the Brutes.
Shade Stalkers
Strike from the protected rear and lose that protection when the front collapses.
Build a complete formation, then refine the balance by comparing real battle reports. The guide intentionally does not prescribe a hidden “perfect” ratio.
Train troops
Each formation has its own facility and queue. Select an unlocked tier, choose an amount that fits capacity and resources, then begin training. Independent facilities can train their formations without blocking one another.
Unlock higher tiers
Higher facility levels unlock stronger troop tiers for that formation. Upgrading existing lower-tier troops preserves roster value, so inspect the available upgrade path when a new tier opens.
Keep a reserve
Do not send every field-ready troop simply because march capacity allows it. Leave enough strength for defense, gathering, reinforcement, or a second useful march.
Troop tier unlocks
Each formation unlocks the same tier checkpoints through its own facility: Reaver Keep, Shadespire Enclave, or Bloodforge Bastion.
| Tier | Required facility level | What to do after unlock |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1 | Begin training the formation |
| II | 4 | Train new Tier II troops or upgrade eligible lower tiers |
| III | 8 | Review batch cost before converting the roster |
| IV | 12 | Keep all three facilities progressing if you want an even line |
| V | 15 | Plan larger resource and timer commitments |
| VI | 18 | Coordinate training bonuses before long queues |
| VII | 21 | Use reports to decide which formation needs depth first |
| VIII | 24 | Preserve enough troops for defense and secondary marches |
| IX | 27 | Prepare for the final facility milestone |
| X | 30 | Influence joins top-tier training costs |
What changes training
Formation identity changes cost and combat behavior, while the selected tier and batch size determine the queue’s base commitment. Dominion Research, eligible Lord Equipment, and Coven landmark bonuses can improve training speed, capacity, or cost. The confirmation screen is the authoritative total for your account.
Train new troops or upgrade old ones?
Train
Adds more troops at the selected unlocked tier. Choose this when army size or reserve depth is the problem.
Upgrade
Converts eligible lower-tier troops toward a higher unlocked tier. Choose this when roster quality is lagging behind facility progress.
Upgrading only affects troops present and eligible for conversion. Troops committed to marches, gathering, reinforcement, or treatment cannot be used until they return.